Chapter 17
"Closing One Chapter and Beginning Another"
So another mystery has been solved and the culprit was someone who we never expected. Then again, they are all someone we never expected. But, for me, there was a matter that I needed to address with the gang before I got out of here. I couldn't go through with this anymore and I needed to set the record straight but it didn't mean I was giving up on Mystery Inc altogether.
Just then, I saw the ghostly image of Michael again standing in the hospital room and this time, he had a brief smile on his face.
"Your friends have succeeded in solving the mystery," he said.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, adjusting my glasses in thought. "What do you mean?"
"Mickey Mouse…tried to cover up my death. But he didn't do this alone, he had help."
Sitting next to me on the edge of my bed, Michael kept his close eye on me.
"Of course he had help," I remarked. "Reverend Kane helped him."
…
"Yes, Reverend Kane made Mickey believe that if he helped get what he wants, then Reverend Kane would give Mickey what he wants. Mickey Mouse is a liar and a cheat."
Taking a deep sigh, I had to accept the fact that one of my childhood heroes was a criminal who put money and power over common sense.
"He knew about it, but he didn't do anything," Michael continued, who sensed something else within me. "But you seem to be thinking about something…right?"
"Yeah," I sighed. "I think I'm much better off in a situation where I can be better off without being in the hospital."
…
The more I thought about it, the more I tried to ponder the possibility of contributing in a different way to Mystery Inc, especially now with Beau and the FBI working with us.
"Maybe now you can rest in peace, Michael," I whispered who smiled in return before disappearing.
Just then, the door opened and in stepped Fred and the others with the looks on their faces that showed just what Michael told me.
"It was Mickey Mouse, right?" I asked and right away, everyone nodded that it was. "What about him?"
"He's in a lot of trouble, that's for sure," Beau sighed. "Imagine using your power to hide the truth and cause spirits to run amok. At least there's going to be some significant changes at Disney now."
Part of me felt nervous of what I needed to say to the team. But, my health and personal safety needed to come first.
"Actually, there is something that I needed to share with all of you," I said. "This is undoubtedly one of the toughest decisions I have ever had to make, but…"
The entire Mystery Inc looked intentionally at me, waiting for what I needed to say. But, they had a strong guess.
"I'm stepping down from being in the field," I announced, much to the expected shock of my teammates. "Guys, I've been in here twice now and who knows what the third time in a hospital bed will look like."
"Velma, are you sure about this?" Daphne asked, a small tear trickling down her eye as she bent over to me. "I mean, you're such a value to us!"
"And I still will be," I said, trying to hold back tears of my own. "I need to focus on my own safety without being in danger every time, that's your job."
"You little sphinx," Daphne tearfully chuckled, hearing me play with her danger prone style.
"I'll still help, guys, just not in the same way."
But there was something else that Beau needed to say to all of us.
"And I also have an announcement," Beau announced, catching all of our attention. "The FBI has expressed interest…to make Mystery Inc an FBI division."
Now this was something that we weren't expecting in any way! Mystery Inc, absorbed by the FBI itself? There is certainly a lot to digest.
...
"What are you talking about?" Daphne asked in a shocked voice.
"I mean that there are plenty of mysteries out there that haven't been solved and many of them are supernatural. Joining the FBI will be best for all of you. You'll solve mysteries in ways you haven't been able to before."
Still, we needed to process everything that had just been said.
"We...we're going to have to get used to this," Fred said sheepishly. "You're just really putting the pressure on us, aren't you?"
"Like, as if we haven't had enough," added Shaggy.
"Yes, but for a good reason," Beau said as he opened the door to my hospital room. "Trust me, Velma can work in our lab while you guys remain in the field."
Part of me felt that Beau was doing this because he had feelings for me, but I wasn't having any feelings for Beau. Besides, I'm a lesbian, it's not possible.
"Guys, think of this as a new beginning," I said, trying to keep their spirits up. "Like Beau said, being in the FBI may be a good thing than you think. Besides, Fred can show his leadership, Daphne can take her feminine nature to the next level and Shaggy and Scooby...well, can just be themselves."
Sighing, Fred and the others gathered around my hospital bed and together, we could only hope what the future held for us as Mystery Inc was now becoming a part of the FBI.
...
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Outside the hospital, Reverend Kane stood and felt that he was going to keep on fighting to get Daphne's spirit.
"So, you want to do things the hard way, don't you?" he whispered, a demonic look in his eyes forming. "Well, I can do just that indeed."
And as he cackled evilly, Reverend Kane was stepping up his game against us and soon, the next chapter in our fight against him will soon begin!
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THE END
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